Watchman&#39;s registry system



R. M. HOPKINS.

WATBHMAN'S REGISTRY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED 00T- 1-0 1919.

Patented Oct. I 25, 1921.

3: E $N W a. A 2 F. /5

' A TTORNE) I R. M. HOPKINS.

WATCHMANS REGISTRY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10. 1919.

1,394,832, I Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN l/E/V TOR A TTORNEY R. M. HOPKINS.

WATCHMAN'S REGISTRY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10, 1919.

1,394,832, Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- mr 6215 INVENTOR E Z Ww/W 3 Br ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD M. HOPKINS, OE RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN DISTRICT TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORA- TIQN OF NEW JERSEY.

WATCHMANS REGISTRY SYSTEM.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, RICHARD M. HOPKINS,

a citizen of the Unit-ed States of America,

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in watchmens registry systems, by which term is meant systems in which the visits of watchmen to certain stations which they are supposed to visit regularly, are registered; and embodies improvements in the system for the same purpose set forth in the appli-- cation of C. C. Johnson, Sr.- No. 209,279, filed Dec. 28, 1917. According to the said Johnson system, the watchman is provided with a portable register having registry mechanism adapted to be actuated by a pushbutton or other suitable device which the Watchman may actuate each time he reaches a station which he is supposed to visit; but this registry mechanism is normally locked, and cannot be actuated, except and until the watchman applies his register to a key device, or conditioning device, of which there is one at each station to be visited. \Vhen the register has been so applied to a key device (preferably, means are provided whereby on each occasion only one particular key device may be used), then, and only then, the watchman may actuate the registry mechanism and so register his visit to that particular station. The several key devices are preferably provided with means whereby they are differentiated one from another,

and the mechanism of the register is such that actuation of the registering mechanism at one station conditions that mechanism for release upon application to the next key device of the series, and upon application 'to said next key device only. In this way the watchman is compelled to visit the several stations in regular order, and cannot continue to actuate his registering mechanism if he omitany station in making his tour, or if he visit stations out of order. When the watchman reaches the end of a tour he may connect suitable transmittin mechanism within his register to a suitab e circuit, or, alternatively, may connect his register to suitable stationary transmitting mechanism, and may then send through such circuit, a

signal indicating that he has completed the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 10, 1919. Serial 0. 329,729.

tour. In this way it is rendered unnecessary for the watchman to signal to the central station separately for each visit to each of his stations; one signal sent at the conclusion of each tour showing that he has visited all of the stations in that tour.

The object of my invention is to improve and simplify the mechanism of such systems, partlcularly the registers and signal-transmitting means thereof; and my invention comprises an improved and simplified register, also an improved combined station device and transmitter by means of which, when the register (properly conditioned by regular application to previous station keydevices) has been applied thereto, the requlred signal may be sent. 'Other features of my invention will be pointed out hereafter.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanyin drawing, illustrating one embodiment of the improved register and the improved station devicejand transmitter, and will then point out the novel features in claims. In the said drawings:

Figure 1 shows a top view of the register, the greater part of the top plate thereof having been broken away to disclose the interior mechanism; Fig. 2 shows a front view of the register, and in particular shows the opening in the face of the register through which the registering devices and the station devices are engaged; Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary transverse section of the register, the section being .taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a fragmentary section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;Fig. 5 shows a transverse section of the register on the lime 5'-'5 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away for clearness, and also shows the register-engaging portion of the station transmitting device in position to engage the register; Fig. 6 is-a view similar to Fig. 5, except that the station transmitter is shown with itsjregister-engaging device in full engagement with the register; Fig. 7 is an elevation and partial section of the transmitting device. with its parts in the positions occupied after withdrawal of the register from the transmitter; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the transmitting mechanism,

mounted a rotatable member carrying a se- 'ries of looks, or registering members, corresponding to non-transmitting stations to be visited, each lock arranged to be actuated by application to a corresponding station key and thereby to permit an advance, through one step, of said rotatable member, so as to bring another lock or registering member into position for actuation at its corresponding station. One or more of the stations to be visited will be a transmitting station, and

, will comprise a transmitting mechanism together with a lock adapted to be inserted into the register to engage a corresponding key therein, engagement of such register key with the transmitter lock releasing that transmitter and causing it to send its signal; the registering member :or members of the register, corresponding to such transmitting station or stations, being the said key or keys of the transmitter.

Referring now to the drawings, and at first to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof: 1 designates a suitable cylindrical case, having in its side an opening 2 (Fig. 2) through which the 1 ends of'the registering members are exposed,

and 3 designates a ske'letonized cylindrical frame rotatably mounted within said case, and rovided with a plurality of registering mem ers 4 correspon ing to non-transmitter stations, also one .or more registering members 5 each corresponding to a transmitter station. The registering members 4 are, in construction, locks of a well-known type, each having a tumbler carrier 4 into which a a suitable key may be introduced; such key,

when so introduced, freeing the tumbler carrier so that it ma be moved axially within the lock case. Since this type of lock is well known, and in common use, I do not deem it necessary to illustrate its interior construction, particularly as that construc: tion forms no portion of my invention, I havin merely selected that particular type of 100 as convenient for use in my resent register. Each tumbler carrier 4 is provided, at its inner or'rear end, with a lug 4 adapted to engage a stud 1 (Figs. 3 and 4) of the outer case 1, and does so engage that stud, when that articular lock 4 is in the. position of the ock exposed to view through opening 2 in Fig. 2. When any locklug 4 is in engagement with the stud 1, ro-

tation of the frame 3 carrying the registering members 4 and 5 is of course prevented; but upon insertion of the corresponding station key (indicated at 6 in doted lines in Fig. 3) so that the tumblers of that registerlng member or lock 4 are positioned to release the tumbler carrier 4*, then by pressing in the key 6 somewhat further the tumbler carrier and its lug 4" are moved in and out of engagement with the stud 1, and then, while the tumbler carrier is still held pressed in, the said lock 4, with the frame 3 which carries it, (and the other locks 4, and other registering devices 5, in consequence) may be rotated one step to the left (of Fig. 2) so bringin another look 4, or, perchance, a registering device 5,v into position for engagement with a station device. In Fig. 3, the tumbler carrier 4 of the look there shown is shown, in full lines, in the pressedin position, while its normal position is indicated in dotted lines. Of course, upon completion of the step-motion of the carrier I 3 to the left, as just-described, the station key is withdrawn from the lock 4 just actuated, and an interior spring (not shown) of.

the particular type of lock 4 indicated then returns the tumbler carrier 4 to its normal position. Engagement of the lug 4 of the next lock 4 which has been brought opposite the opening 2 by the step advance of frame 3, with the stud 1, then prevents further advance of frame 3 to the left, until the next station of the series has been reached and the key of that station properly introduced into such new look 4, while backward motion of the frame 3 is prevented by engagement of a pawl 7 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) with a ratchet wheel 8 fixed to one of the side'plates of case 1.

It is desirable, as already indicated, that at one or more of the stations to" be visited there shall be a signal transmitter which shall. be caused to send a signal by the application of the'watchmans register thereto; and such a transmitter is indicated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. It comprises the usual break wheel 9, with. contact pen 10, a driving spring 11, a winding lever 12 therefor, and a ear train '13 for communicating motion rom the driving spring to the break wheel.

All of these parts are well known and of common construction, except that the form of the winding lever 12 has been modified slightly for a purpose made clear hereafter. A case 14 incloses the transmitter mechanism proper. The usual stop cam 15 is provided, and, as usual, normally engages a pin 16 of the break wheel,'so preventing operation of the transmitter.

From the case 14 rojects a rod 17, carry- 1 ing a lock 18 sim" ar to the locks 4 previously mentioned, the rod 17 in fact formin an extension of the tumbler carrier 4? of the lock 18. This rod 17 has a sliding bearing in the side of transmitter case 14. The lock 18 is also provided with another rod,

19, adapted to enter case 14 through an opening 20, and surrounding rod 19 is a compression spring 21, bearing against the side of case 14: and against the rear face of lock 18.

Rod 17 is connected by a pivoted link 22 to the winding lever 12 of the transmitter, so that when lock 18 is pressed back toward the transmitter, as indicated in 'Fig. 6, said lever 12 is moved to Wind the transmitter spring 11, and the stop cam 15 is moved out of the path of the pin 16; but the arrangement is such that the stop cam cannot be moved the final distance required to release the transmitter mechanism until a key carried by the register and corresponding to -lock 18, has released the tumbler carrier of that lock; other words, the functioning of a key, carried by the register, in the lock 18 of the transmitter, is required to release the transmitting mechanism.

. The said key of the register, corresponding to transmitter lock 18, is designated by numeral 23, and is inclosed, normally, within a guard cylinder 24, adapted to retreat, but normally held outward by a spring 25. This spring is itself located within a frame 26, forming a part of lock-carrying frame 3. 27 designates a radially-sliding escapement head, mounted by side rods 28 in sliding bearings in head 26, the butt of key 23 being secured to this sliding head 27, and so being supported by frame 26. This head 27 carries two escapement dogs 29, which, when key 23 is in initial position in registry with opening 2 of case 1, engage studs 30 and 31, projecting from the two side plates of register man, carrying the register box 1, presents case 1, preventing further advance of lock carrying frame 3.

The method of actuation of the register at one of the transmitter stations is as follows: When the watchman reaches such a station with the register, the previous actuation of the register at the preceding stations will have brought the key 23 corresponding to the lock 18 at that transmitter station, opposite opening 20f the case. The register is then thrust over that lock 18, which then enters the register case (the opening 2 being large enough to permit this, as clearly indicated in Figs. 5 and 6). As the lock 18 enters the transmitter case, it p shes back the guard cylinder 24, the key 23 itself entering the tumbler carrier of said lock, as

is usual when such a key is to actuate such a look. When the key has entered the look far enough to rpleasethe tumbler barrel of the latter (by acting on the tumblers of the lock in the usual manner) the key itself retreats slightly within the register as a result Offurther entry of the lock 18 into the register, so disengaging the escapement dogs 29 from the studs 30 and 31 (Fig. 6). During this operation winding lever 12 of the transmitter mechanism has been pressed back to wind the driving spring 11 of the transmitter mechanism, and the stop cam has been moved almost far enough to release the break wheel pin 16. The register is then rotated slightly, with respect to the transmitter, as for the usual step advance of the register frame 3, and as this is done an anti-friction roller 32 carried by the head 27 engages a cam 33 carried by one of the side-plates of case 1, and forces the said head, and with it the key 23, the tumbler carrier of the lock 18, and rod 17 (which, it will be remembered, is an extension of said tumbler carrier,) outward, so completing the movement of stop cam 15 required to disengage the same from stop pin 16, and so permitting the said pin to spring past theend of cam 15. Upon withdrawal of the register from the transmitter, and consequent release of the driving spring 11 of the transmitter, the transmitting mechanism will operate, sending in the corresponding signal. It will be seen, therefore, that not only application of the register key 23 to the transmitter lock 18, and the full pressing in of said key into said lock, so far as this can be done without rotation of the register case 1 with respect to the transmitter, but also the rotation of the register case as required to register the visit of the register to that station and to bring another registering device, (as for example a lock 4) into initial position opposite 2, is

required before the transmitter can be operated to send in its signal.

. The operation of the register as a whole, is as follows:

In starting his round or tour, the watchthat register at the first key station, to the key 6 thereat, causing that key to enter fully the tumbler carrier of the first lock 4 of his register, (which effects release of the lug 4 of that lock from the stud 1 of case 1) and then rotates case 1 of the register with respect to frame 3 and said first lock 4, the key 6 holding said frame and lock 4; against rotation. The opening 2 in the front of the case is of such length as to permit the ad- Vance of case 1 with respect to frame 3 by one step only, at any one such station, the pawl 7, by its engagement with ratchet 8, preventing backward motion of the case 1 with respect to frame 3. The visit to the first key station has now been registered, and a second look 4 brought into initial position opposite opening 2. The watchman then withdraws the register from the key 6 -of the first station, advances to the next key station, and in turn presents his register to the key 6 at that station, again turning the register case through one space, with respect to the key at that station and with respect to the frame 6 of the register. In this way he proceeds, at each station registering his visit thereat; and it will be noted that he cannot omit any station, for all of the station keys being individualized with respect to their corresponding locks, no lock can be brought into initial position opposite opening 2 until the register has been actuated properly at the preceding station. In the course of his tour he comes to a transmitter station (there may be one or more of these transmitter stations, and it or they may be located anywhere in the tour) and actuates his register at the transmitter station precisely as at any of the key stations, except that at a transmitter station the lock 18 ofthat station enters the register and engages the corresponding key 23 of the register. In registering his visit to the transmitter station, before the case of the register can be rotated it is first necessary to press the register against the transmitter, so partly winding the transmitter, as previously explained; the turning of the case 1 at that station then completing the winding of the transmitter, as previously explained, so that upon withdrawing the register from the transmitter that transmitter will operate to send in the desired signal.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A register comprising a case having an aperture, and lock-carrying means rotatably mounted within said case .and comprising a plurality of locks movable with said lockcarrying means past the said aperture of said case, said case provided with a detent and said locks each provided with a member adapted to engage that detent when opposite said aperture, and thereby to prevent movement of the lock-carrying member with respect to said case during such engagement, said locks each comprising key-actuated means permitting disengagement of such look from said detent upon actuation of the lock by a proper key.

2. A register comprising registering means adapted to register by movement by successive stages with respect to locking means, and locking means mounted for motion with respect to said registering means and comprising a key adapted to be engaged by an external lock, escapement means normally preventing movement of said locking means with respect to said registering means when said key is in position for engagement with an external lock, said key mounted to retreat upon engagement with its lock and arranged by its retreat to release said escapement means, and means for returning said key upon disengagement thereof from such external lock.

3. A register comprising registering means adapted to register by movement by successive stages with respect to locking means, and locking means mounted for motion with respect to said registering means and comprising a key adapted to be engaged by an external lock, escapement means normally preventing movement of said locking means with respect to said registering means when said key is in position for engagement with an external lock, said key mounted to retreat upon engagement with its lock and arranged by its retreat to release said escapement means, means for returning said key upon disengagement thereof from such external lock, and guard means normally restricting access to said key.

4. A register comprising registering means adapted to register by movement by successive stages with respect to locking means, and locking means adapted to be controlled by stationary keys separate from the register, gsaid locking means comprising means arranged to permit step by step advance of the registering means under control of said keys, and further comprising a key adapted to be engaged by an external lock, said key mounted to be moved by said external lock when engaged thereby, and escapement means normally preventing movement of said locking means with respect to said registering means when said key is in position for engagement with its external lock, said key arranged by its movement to release said escapement means.

5. A registry system comprising a plurality of stations at one of which is a transmitter provided with driving means, and at others of which are register-actuating means, and a portable register having means, normally concealed, for operating the drivin mechanism of said transmitter, together witfi controlling means for said register-actuating means, said controlling means arranged to be conditioned by application to the various register-actuating means to expose said transmitter-actuating means only when the register'has been properly actuated at previous stations.

6. A registry system comprising a plurality of stations at one of which is a transmitter and at others of which are register-actuating means, and a portable register having means controllable by the register-actuating means at said stations, to permit said register to be actuated at one such station only when conditioned for actuation thereat by actuation at a previous station, said transmitter comprising driving mechanism, said register comprising means adapted to actuate that transmitter, and comprising means whereby the transmitter-operating means of the register is exposed for engagement with the appropriate part of the transmitter only when said register has been correctly operated at previous stations of the system.

7. A registr system comprising a plurality of stations at one of which is a transmitter provided with spring-actuated driving means, and at others of which are register-actuating means, and a portable re ister having means for winding the spring ot said transmitter, together with controlling means for said winding means, said controlling means arranged to be conditioned by application to the various register-actuating means to permit winding of the spring of said transmitter by the spring-winding means of the register only when the register has been properly actuated at previous stations.

8. A register comprising a portable transmitter-operating means and a succession of key-operated means and means preventing operation of said transmitter-operating means until said succession of key-operated means has been operated.

9. A register comprising a portable transmitter-operating means and a succession of locks, each arranged to be operated by an appropriate key, and means preventing operation of said transmitter-operating means until said succession of locks. has been operated. 10. A register comprising a portable transmitter-operating means and a succession of key-operated means and means preventing, operation of said transmitter-operating means until said succession of key-operated means has been operated in pre-determined order.

11. A register comprising a portable transmitter-operating means and a succession of locks, each arranged to be operated by an appropriate key, and means preventing operation of said transmitter-operating means until each of said locks has been operated in predetermined order.

12. A registry system comprising a transmitter station and a transmitter thereat, a plurality of key stations and keys thereat, and a portable register comprising a transmitter-operating means adapted to actuate said transmitter, and comprising also a succession of key-operated means adapted to be operated in succession by corresponding of said station keys and means for preventing operation of said transmitter-operating means until each of said key-operated means has been operated.

13. A registry system comprising a transmitter station and a transmitter thereat having windable operating means, aplurality of key stations and keys thereat, anda portable register comprising means for winding said transmitter operating means, and comprising also key-operated means adapted to be operated by said station keys, together with means precluding operation of the means for winding said transmitter until said keyoperated means has been operated by all.

of said keys.

14. A registry system comprising a transmitter station and a transmitter thereat having windable operating means, a plurality of other stations, and a portable register comprising means for winding said transmitter operating means, said register and saidother stations having in the one case key-operated means and in the other case a succession of keys, together with means preventing operation of said means for winding said transmitter until each of said keys has operated said key-operated means.

15. A signaling system comprising a plurality of stations, at one of which is a transmitter having windable operating means, and portable means, said portable means and certain of said stations together comprising means for registering visits to said stations, said portable means also comprising means for winding said transmitter operating means. 7

16. A signaling system comprising a plu-.. rality of stations, at one of which is a transmitter having windable operating means, and portable means comprising means for winding said transmitter operating means, said portable means and certain of said stations together comprising means for reg istering visits to said stations, together with means for preventing the winding of said transmitter operating means until a station other than the transmitter tation has been visited.

17. A signaling system comprising a plurality of stations, at one of which is a transmitter having windable operating means, and portable means comprising means for winding said transmitter operating means, said portable means and certain of said stations together comprising means for regs istering visits to said stations, together with meansfor preventing the winding of said transmitter operating means until all previous stations have been visited.

18. A registry system comprising a register having two members movable one with respect to the other to effect registration and a transmitter comprising windable means arranged to be woundby the registering motion of said register members.

19. A registry system comprising a register having two members movable one with respect to the other to eifect registration and a. transmitter comprising windable means arranged to be wound in part by thrust of t e register against it and thereafter to be wound further by the registering motion of said register members.

20. A registry system comprising a register having two members movable one withrespect to the other to effect registration and a transmitter comprising windable means, said register and said windable means comprising locking means and a key there-for by relative gaction of which together with registering motion of said two register members the winding of said windable means is effected.

said windable means may be wound in part;

said lock comprising a key-controlled member by thrust against which, after action of the key, the Winding of said windable means may be completed, said register comprising a key for said lock, the register adapted for bodily engagement with said lock to thrust against the latter to partly wind said windable means, and further comprising means whereby registering motion of said two reg- 15 ister members, one with respect to the other, actuates the key to complete Winding of said windable means. a

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two sub- 20 scribing witnesses.

, RICHARD M.'HOPKINSO Witnesses IRWIN J. STURMWALD, H. MARBLE. 

